Raquel Cassidy

Raquel Josephine Dominic Cassidy (born 22 January 1968) is an English actress. Early life and education Born to a Spanish mother and an English father, she was the third child and only daughter born to the couple. Born and brought up in Fleet, Hampshire, she was educated at Farnborough Hill Convent, and then Girton College, Cambridge, where she studied modern languages and then biological anthropology. She later pursued a PhD in biological anthropology, but she abandoned it to pursue a career in acting. Career Cassidy is best known for her 2013–2015 television role as rehabilitated thief and ladies maid Phyllis Baxter in Downton Abbey. Other roles include Susan Gately in Teachers (series 1 and 2), the Home Office Junior Minister Jo Porter in Party Animals, Cassie Turner in The Worst Week of My Life, Nancy Weeks in Moving Wallpaper, Miss Hardbroom in The Worst Witch and Mel in Lead Balloon.